Re: Why is manganese dioxide a good catalyst for hydrogen peroxide?

     Hi Clare, A catalyst speeds up a reaction, so what is so special about 
MnO2 when it comes to hydrogen peroxide? First you would have to understand 
that a catalyst does this by weakening the bonds between the reactants by 
streatching them. Why does this make manganese dioxide a good catalyst for 
hydrogen peroxide? That would depend on what the reaction was. A good 
catalyst will speed up a reaction but  will not change the results. It 
would depend on what you were trying to catalyze. In general, yes it is 
because of the electrons and the structure. If you think about it, MnO2 is 
pretty stable, so under normal conditions it is not going to oxidize any 
further, atleast not from H2O2. however the oxygen already in it will pull 
at the bonds of the H2O2 making them weaker. I hope that helps.